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Sunday, May 29, 2011

No, I didn’t win the lottery, or even find a publisher for our work (now that would be a VERY Happy Day!), but sometimes it’s the small things in life which can make a day brighter.

In this case, its having a working printer once again. And thank goodness for extended warranties. A new printer has now been installed to replace the one I had been using and which suddenly just went on strike. It had been brand new in August of last year, and so fortunately the warranty allowed for a replacement instead of just a repair (another 2 - 4 weeks wait). The technician at Future Shop agreed there was something wrong as he couldn’t get it to function properly either.

And in that vein of things new, I am just back from the grocery store, having pre-planned my lunches this week. This is something I keep putting off doing and so my brown-bag days for work are haphazard at best. However, I am determined to finally start eating a planned meal for lunches. This is as a result of two things; 1) needing to lose some weight and feel better; and 2) it will help offset the continually rising price of gas I fork out each week for my commute.

So now I know I have my lunches already planned for this week – except for Thursday pizza lunches with Cheryl of course! I am also determined to reduce the portion of evening meals as well. Small steps, but if I see the slightest downward trend on the scale that will be the encouragement I need.

Remarkably the sun is shining right now – this has probably been the wettest May I can ever remember. And more is forecast for today, but with that forecast the humidity has set in..and that does NOT make for a Happy Day.

Hard to believe June is just around the corner.

I have finally taken up reading “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” by Stieg Larsson, and have the second installment in the series waiting close at hand.I love a fast paced tale and once this one got going I now find it hard to put down.So after I finish up my monthly newsletter for work, I plan on taking a horizontal view of the day, with the book in hand.If a nap ensues who am I to resist?I’m also planning some time with Body Perfect to keep to the theme of the day.

Monday, May 16, 2011

This time last year I was busy preparing for the “Bloody Words” conference in Toronto. This year it is being held in Victoria, BC and unfortunately Liz and I will not be attending. I would love to have gone and spent the time in Victoria and of course meet up with all the fabulous mystery and crime writers that will be there. We had talked of going but until we get the book accepted and maybe make a little bit of money we will have to contend with writers festivals and conferences nearer to home.Since last I posted the world has gone topsy turvey. Of course I watched the “wedding” in all its glory and enjoyed the pageantry and making comments about the hats that the English have a passion... or a fascinator!! I will be attending two weddings this coming weekend and I doubt I will see one hat. Many years ago I wore a hat to a wedding and I was a big curiosity. Now I don’t wear a hat and I am still a curiosity!! Our election results were not to my liking but as Liz and I differ on this subject I will leave it well alone. That same weekend Bin Laden was no more and more fighting in Libya. Then all the natural disasters, flooding in Mississippi and Manitoba. It certainly puts things in perspective when we have some rain as we have had this past few days. I can’t imagine what these people are going through as they watch their land and property taken over by water.I think birthdays are very important and I like to celebrate family and friends special day with them but.. three birthdays in one week and two weddings! I hope I survive the week along with a busy schedule at work. Talking of birthdays, I want to welcome to the world a new great niece, Cara Taylor. A little sister for Elsa.Liz has been a busy beaver while she has been on vacation this week. Finishing the revising on the chapters we worked on the last time we were together. Yes, it is slow going, but the end is in sight.You may have noticed that I have failed to mention the foolhardy notion I had of keeping fit. It is still on my agenda but I think I will keep my efforts to myself. Like the writing of late it has been a hit and miss affair.Mothers day was a few weeks ago and my nearest and dearest gave me a book by Alice Munro. I thought I had read everything she has written and agreed with the critics and award committees that she is one of Canada’s national treasures. The recipient of many, many awards for her work this book seems to have escaped me. It is called “The View from Castle Rock” and came out in 2006. She is a master story teller and these stories hold a great deal of interest for me. She is very interested in her Laidlaw ancestors and has traced them back to the Ettrick Valley in the border country between Scotland and England of which I am familiar. Some of it is fact and the rest is fiction. I have just started reading so will give you more details in another post.Have a good week,Slainte,Pam

ps...don't be confused that this is posted by Liz; Pam had some technical problems and wasn't able to get it to post, so fortunately I was able to post it for her. Cheers! Liz

Friday, May 13, 2011

Really? I suppose if you’re the superstitious type its an auspicious day. The only unlucky thing about it for me is that it means my few days off work are coming to an end. L(And when I first tried to post this blog entry at 11:00 a.m., was told “Blogger is currently unavailable” – coincidence?)

The weather has been wonderful these past few days; front yard landscaping done, and I have the aches and pains to prove it!A long overdue car cleaning was finally checked off the list as well.And this morning I have wrapped up Body Perfect revisions up to Chapter Twelve.

Sleeping in past 4:30 has been a real treat, but now I must wait until August to enjoy it again.The weather forecast is calling for a risk of thunderstorms this afternoon – dare I hope?My apologies to those of you who dislike storms.I’ll concede I don’t like the wind-damaging kinds of storms, but to drift off to sleep with the sound of distant thunder and rain on my window is one of my pleasures in life.As well, I find a rainy day very conducive to writing, but its beginning to look like I’ll be cheated out of that benefit today as the sun is shining and there is a gentle breeze.But I also know how quickly that can change.

And as there is still no luck with any lotteries, I suppose it’s back to work on Monday.

Have a great weekend – one week today marks the first long weekend of the summer!Whoohoo!

Sunday, May 1, 2011

A beautiful day yesterday – sunny and dry! Bit of a breeze though. A great day to get the front yard cleaned up and think about some minor landscaping. But exhausting work, which just underscores being out of shape..grrrrrr!

I did manage to make a stab at Body Perfect and intend to get back to it after posting this – really, I do!

And well deserved congratulations to Louise Penny on winning the Agatha for Best Novel at this year’s Malice Domestic!

Today the weather is less promising, not much sun and rain (gee what a surprise) in the forecast for later and overnight.

Being a very early riser for work, I managed to watch a good portion of the Royal Wedding on Friday. I delayed my commute by about fifteen minutes in order to see Kate arrive at the Abbey. Fortunately there must have been quite a few Royal watchers that morning because the traffic was much lighter and even though I delayed my start I managed to arrive at pretty much my regular time. Thanks to Rogers On Demand, I could then catch up on all that I had missed later that day. I can only hope that William and Kate enjoy a happier life than Charles and Dianna.

One of my little squirrel friends is gnawing away at the garden gate and with the window open I can hear how industrious he is being. One way of getting some fibre in his diet I suppose – I’m glad I have other options available in my diet!

And back to spring cleaning; another task accomplished this morning. Perhaps not as physical but no less challenging. My inbox! Slacker that I am, I let it accumulate into the hundreds but have now cleared it down to only 10 items. The rest were either deleted or filed in their appropriate folders. Cleaning up the sent folders and then finally deleting the deletes will make my weekly back up a little quicker I’m sure!

Amazing how accomplishing one or two tasks can help you feel more organized and content – well at least until tomorrow!